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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "into your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "transfer of your funds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348080964801 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <mrelvism003@live.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:13:57 +0000
Subject: RE-IMMEDIATE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION






CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIATINUBU SQUARE, VICTORIAISLAND LAGOS NIGERIA,OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
TEL/FAX: +234-808-096-4801
Our Ref: CBN/IRD/CBX/021/08

Attn: Funds Beneficiary
RE-IMMEDIATE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

Dear Sir,
In realisation of the fact that you have spent your time and hard earned money while trying to receive your overdue Contract/Inheritance payment, we have this 13th day of November 2008 received a payment credit instruction from the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Senate committee on Foreign debts to credit your account with your full Contract/Inheritance funds from the Nigerian reserve account in our bank, (CBN).
In the light of this, we wish to notify you that your funds have been programmed for immediate release into your nominated bank account. Therefore your are advised to furnish us with the below information to enable us start the processing of all the LEGAL DOCUMENTS required for a hitch free transfer of your funds into your norminated bank account without further delay.
Your Full Name: ______________________________
Your full banking details:________________________ Your Complete Address:________________________ Name of City of Residence:____________________ Country:______________________________________ Direct Telephone Number:______________________ Mobile Number:________________________________ AGE :_________________________________________ Fax Number:___________________________________ Note that as soon as we receive the needed information, we shall proceed with the processing of all the LEGAL DOCUMENTS in your name and favour. Furthermore, we advise you to act fast to enable us serve you better. You are also warned to stop every correspondence with anyone henceforth to avoid duplication of effort which we are making towards immediate conclussion of your payment.

Finally, onbehalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Central Bank of Nigeria, we sincerely apologise for the inconviniences your may have suffered in the past wile trying to receive your funds and we are assuring you of a positive result this time. We are expecting your earliest response. Thank you and God bless.
Yours in service,
Mr. Elvis Mark. Director, Central Computing Monitoring Unit, (CBN).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam